WRKO-AM (680) has cut loose afternoon radio host Charley Manning because of less than stellar ratings, according to sources.

Ex-WTKK-FM (96.9) nighttime host and Herald contributor Michele McPhee will take his place starting Monday.

Manning, who replaced Rush Limbaugh on WRKO, has been on the air less than a year in the 1 to 3 p.m. time slot.

More to come .

UPDATE:

WRKO just sent out this press release:

Michele McPhee to Join WRKO Lineup

January 13, 2010 (Boston)  Entercom New England announced today that acclaimed media personality and celebrated author Michele McPhee will join the lineup at WRKO beginning next Monday, January 17th.

McPhee replaces Charley Manning from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Manning, who is involved in a number of business ventures that keep him working around the clock, is leaving to devote more of his time to those projects.

I want to thank Charley for his tireless efforts over the past year. I enjoyed working with him and I look forward to working with him in the future, said Jason Wolfe, Vice President of AM Programming and Operations at Entercom New England. Michele has a tremendous track record of success in Boston. She works extremely hard, and Im very excited to bring here to WRKO. She has great contacts locally and nationally, and her experience and understanding of this market will provide for some very compelling programming.

I am excited to be part of the lineup at WRKO, said McPhee. Talk Radio plays such an important role in keeping politicians accountable; engaging in analysis about the daily headlines; and giving New Englanders a chance to weigh in. Im looking forward to getting started and coming up with a daily dose of outrage.

McPhee’s voice is kinda screechy but I think she said she’s deaf in one ear so maybe she doesn’t notice she could be talking too loud. On election night (Brown v. Coakley) a yr ago, she screeched MICHAEL GRAHAM IS IN THE HOUSE!!!! Ouch, my ears!

It sounds like Manning is going to be away from radio but maybe he occasionally show up as a guest or even a VERY
occasional guest host on 96.9, 1200, maybe even 1030. But only as a guest I’d think, most likely.

I am glad to hear this. Charley Manning was a ponderous bore and I'm surprised he lasted as long as he did considering the local talent that is out there.

McPhee will be a great addition to WRKO and a perfect lead-in to the Howie Carr show. Like Howie, Michelle McPhee is a Bostonian who has a good grasp on the local Boston scene and loves to expose corruption with public officials. I can tell you that local politicians will be shaking in their boots with this 1-2 punch.

I've heard the criticism about her "screechy" voice but her passion for the issues more than makes up for it. She leans conservative on most issues and she'll take on personal crusades be it allowing a war veteran to fly the American flag in his yard or fighting a town board's attempt to ban Christmas trees on the town square.

LMAO.....less than stellar ratings......LMAO LOL, LOL, less than stellar, YA THINK????? The guy was almost as bad as the joke that is bill kelly. I’ve never listened to McPhee so this will be a first for me - if her voice is as bad as others claim it is then I’ll go back to listening to music or other things from noon to three because lunch money isn’t my cup of tea and neither is the ego maniac up the dial!

Will Manning be on air today or will there be a “best of” felon in place OR will Manning be there and there’ll be two hours of callers whining and crying, oh charlie we love you, this is sooooooo unfair, bla bla bla - think I’ll tune in at 1 to hear how RKO handles this......remember the SAMl (scott allen miller) fiasco? - that loser finneran is still on the air, unfreakin’believable, how does he do it, who did he buy off, who did he threaten???????? Soooo many questions, lol!

Ok, so that answers that question, Jenn Brien instead of manning..........I’m glad RKO didn’t do the 2 hours of oh charlie we love you,,,,,,,,,,,bla bla bla.........I can take this brien person in small doses......

I didn’t listen to the full two hours, as soon as she starts with her whiney voice I shut it down for awhile, I can’t stand the whining, she does it, laura, tammy bruce, sarah palin, hillary, they all have screechy whiney voices, makes me nuts! I’m glad manning and his gay voice is gone - I may tune in Monday to catch Mcphee’s opening show -

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